THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD’S GRACE

Jeremiah 9:23-24  This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.  (NIV)

Introduction

This morning I am going to finish my series of sermons on “The Attributes of God”.

This last message in this series is entitled, “The Sufficiency Of God’s Grace”.

It seems only fitting that I should end this series of messages with this subject on the day that we have set aside to celebrate our 25th anniversary as a New Testament church because if it were not for the grace of God this church would not be here and neither would any of us be here this morning.

Hopefully through this series of messages you have come to know the Lord in a better way and have also been drawn closer to him because of the things that you have learned about him through his word.

Before we look at this subject I would first like for us to look at the meaning of the word “grace” and see some of the characteristics of God’s grace.

The Geek word that is translated “grace” in the New Testament is the word “charis” which literally means, “a free favor or gift”.

When the word “grace” is used in reference to God’s grace we are talking about God’s free favor that we as human beings do not deserve or God’s unmerited favor.

From the meaning of the word “grace” we can see that one of its characteristics is that it is free.

Ephesians 1:5-6  he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  (NIV)

Today within the world man buys various kinds of favors from people, yet as human beings we can not buy God’s grace because he offers it to everyone freely.

2 Corinthinas 12:9  But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  (NIV)

I’m going to use this verse as the basis for my sermon on the grace of God.  In it, God says, “my grace is sufficient for you”.

This word “sufficient” means, “strong enough” and is in the present tense which shows us that God’s grace is always strong enough or sufficient for us.

What exactly is God’s grace sufficient for?  This morning I would like for us to look at six ways in which the Bible describes God’s grace as being sufficient for us.